Protective cap



W. E. DANDY PROTECTIVE CAP Filed June 18, 1941 172/216 12 Z07 ll bz; 61D

14 Z Zor'va 635,

Nov. 9, 1943.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 V UNITED PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE CAB Walter E. Dandy, Baltimore, Md.

f Application June 18, 1941, Serial No. 398,678

Claims. (01. 2-3) This invention relates to head coverings and p more particularly to protective head coverings designed to be worn by persons engaged in hazardous occupations.

While the invention, in its broader aspects, is applicable to protective head coverings such as miners hats or caps and firemens helmets, it has special utility when applied to baseball caps.

As is well known, baseball players, especially when batting, are frequently struck on the head by a pitched ball and are sometimes badly injured. When at the bat, the side of the players head is disposed in the direction from which the pitched balls come, and thus the most vulnerable region, namely, the portion of the head just above and forward of the ear, i exposed to the danger of being hit.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a cap having therein a protective shield or guard so positioned as to cover at least the most vulnerable portion of the players head.

More specifically, the invention contemplates inserting, between the usual fabric body and lining of the cap, a relatively stiff or rigid shield Fig. 2 is a transverse section substantially on tially on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of theimproved shields or guard members itself; and

Fig. 5 is an edge view thereof.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the'cap,

which may be of the usual construction, com.- prises an outer, fabric body i and a lining 2. Inside the lining, and extendin around the lower edge of the cap, is the usual sweat band 3, and the cap may be provided with the customary visor 4.

A pocket is formed at each side of the cap between the fabric body and lining, as by means of a seam or row of stitching 5. In this pocket is enclosed my improved shield or guard member, designated in its-entirety by the reference numeral 6.

This shield or guard member is relatively rigid and may be molded from wood pulp, indurated fiber, or plastic material such as some of the synthetic resins, either with or without reinforcing threads or fabric. As shown, it is preferably thicker in its middle portions, tapering to relatively thin edges.

The shield or guard member is of double curvature, that is to say, it is curved both horizontally and vertically, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the degree In one form, the invention contemplates the provision of a slide fastener for closing the pocket between the body and lining of the cap, so that the shield or guard member may be placed in or removed from such pocket, as desired.

In another form of the invention, the shield or guard member is permanently secured within the pocket, as by sewing.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a separate shield receiving pocket on each side of the cap, so that the shield may be worn on one or both sides, as desired, or may be shifted from one side to the other in accordance with whether the player is a right or left handed batter.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a baseball cap embodying the invention, the cap being illustrated as in position on the head of a player;

of curvature is preferably such that the shield bears against the head X of the wearer only at its margins or edges, as indicated at a and b in Fig. 2, so that a space or cavity Y is formed between the body of the shield and the head of the wearer.

The upper edge 6 of the shield is preferably curved or arcuate, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, while the lower edge 6 is substantially straight.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the shield receiving pocket is provided with an opening in the fabric body of the cap,

preferably near the lower edge, which opening preferable to permanently secure the shield within the cap at the time of manufacture. To this end. the shield may be provided, preferably along it lower edge, with .a series of holes 6', through which holes the shield may be sewed directly to the material of the cap, In this modification, a shield may be placed either on one side only of the cap, in which case different caps would be permanently secured to the cap, it will beseeng that I have provided means for protecting the most vulnerable portion of the side-oi a players head from injury by being struck by'a ball, the

shape of my improved shield or guard member being such as to prevent impact of a ball againsta relativelysmall spot and to distribute theforce of the blow over a'wide area of thehead. 'Ih-isis. due to the arcuate shape of the shield providing a space or cavity betweenitselt and theehead. What I claim is: J

i 1.. A protective baseballjcap comprising a fabric body and a 1inin-g,.saidfbody and lining forming a. pocket between them, said body having an open ing affording access, to said pocket, means. for closing said opening, and a relatively rigid curved shield member insertable into and removable. from said pocket throughsaid opening, and of; such extent that, when in use, it overlies the side. of the head of the wearer just above the ear.

2'. A protective cap comprising theusual fabric body and a lining, and a relatively rigidshield member enclosed between said body and lining and of such extent as to cover that portion or the side of the head of the wearer just above the ear, the lower edge of said shield being substantially straight, and the upper ed e curved. and said shield being of arcuate section both vertically and horizontally.

3. A protective cap comprisingthe usual fabric, body and a lining, and having a pocket at each side between said body and lining, and a substantially rigid shield capable. 01 beingpositioned in either pocket as may be: desired, and or such shape and area as to cover the vulnerable region. at the side'of the head just above the ear of the wearer.

4. A protective baseball cap comprising a cap of conventional type having its lateral area composed of inner and outer fabric layers forming a'pocket between them, means for closing said pocket, and a relatively rigid shield of double curvature enclosed within and substantially fill: Q

ers comprising a cap ofconventionalshape having its. lateral area composed or inner and'outer. fabric layers, forming. apocket betweenthemmnd a shield of'lmolded'. plastic material, curvedlboth.

vertically and horizontally, enclosed and secured" within said pocket, said shield having a straight lower edge coinciding substantially with the edle WALTER n; DANDY. j' 

